4 Mondays out: 4 Reasons why I think the Castle fandom needs to take a deep breath and enjoy the ride.

Castle fans have been all a flutter since the May proposal of one Richard Edgar Castle to one Katherine Houghton Beckett. First there was awe, then brutal dissection of scenes and dialogue which led to night sweats of hiatus withdrawal offering up everything from conspiracy theories to impending doom for our much beloved 'Caskett'. July arrived with a slew of spoilers, guest star announcements and as a result, we have a fan base gone mad with anticipation. As we arrive at four precious weeks out from the Sept 23rd season premiere fans were given a morsel of what the opening moments of season 6 are going to offer.

Instead of over thinking the tease, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on why in the sound and fury I remain calm, excited and unconcerned about the two hanging questions and their implications for this upcoming season.

1) The Dance
Andrew Marlowe and co. have thoughtfully built Castle around this central relationship, not their love affair, but their relationship. The moment that made this clear was the final five minutes of Sucker Punch in season 2. Beckett discovering and then having to kill the man who murdered her mother is the moment for me when this series made a specific turn towards the potential depth of intimacy this duo possessed. Yes, we've been given five years of double meanings, sexual tension, missed opportunities, sideways knowing glances and ultimately coupling. More importantly however is the fabric woven together around these two characters that allowed the viewers to discover their mutual respect, admiration and affection for one another. Love isn't about the things you adore, it's about the willingness to accept the things you don't. What makes me most excited about season 6 is that the close of season 5 left these two characters in completely uncharted territory and primed to explore what it is to truly love and accept someone for who they actually are.

2) The Ying Yang
This show has always been about the sum of its parts. The strength of the supporting cast be it Molly Quinn and Susan Sullivan giving Rick Castle depth and perspective or Semus Dever and John Huertas as Beckett's extended family and a home at the 12th. Much deserved credit and screen time has evolved for these characters and gives Castle the feel and depth of an ensemble piece. Time (and the writers) have served this show well resulting in wonderful character nuances. But the real accomplishment can be found in the fact that the nuance extends beyond the leads and regular cast.

For me the balance (ying yang if you will) that the writers have crafted so well are the people we hardly see but are integral to how we understand our leads. Think about it - Jim Beckett, Meredith, Josh, Gina, etc. are clearly defined characters in the show's pantheon and as a viewer they are vital to both Castle and Beckett's back stories. However when you look at the credits, Meredith has only been seen in two episodes over the life of the series, yet her influence permeates our outlook on Castle particularly as it relates to his commitment to Beckett. No character better defines the shows use of back story than Jim Beckett, played with such quiet strength by Scott Paulin. Unseen until midway through season 2 and only five times over the course of the series you would be hard pressed to find a fan who doesn't feel as closely connected to him as they do to Martha. His diner scenes with Kate are pivotal in forcing her to stay honest with herself. His conversation with Rick in Knockout gave viewers a window into Beckett's vulnerability and offered the audience it's clearest moment of Kate's feelings for Rick. It is a testament to the writing, casting and actors who in such small amounts offer so much dimension to the central story and theme of the show over the last five years. Adding new recurring characters and expanding the Castle universe for me doesn't take away from the core group we've followed the last five years. It offers an opportunity to observe them through a new and different lens which is ripe with possibility.

3) The Secret Ingredient

The crew. You often hear mention of the crew by many of the actors on the show and many of them can be found on Twitter. I recently sat down and watched the commentary episodes from past seasons. The well deserved reverence that the cast and creators have for the the dozens of people who literally create the world these characters inhabit is boundless. They are the secret ingredient that makes Castle a Monday night treat. I actually marvel at the intricacies that exist on Castle's sets that offer continuity, character definition and plot advancement. The combination of set design, lighting, music and costumes are a character within the show. 

One of the most salient examples the DVDs revealed was the attention, detail and effort placed into the murder boards. The continuity that these details provide serve the actors, the characters they play and lend authenticity to the show and deepens the investment we make as a viewer. Then of course there are episodes like The Blue Butterfly and Final Frontier that are just a feast for the eye in costume and set design. Only listening to the commentary do you really gain insight to the camaraderie this crew has and the joy that emanates from all their hard work. Whether its the big set pieces or small recurring themes, like Castle's remote controlled helicopters, the care and attention given to the world these artists so carefully create is something I can only imagine will be more intriguing as the potential expansion of the Castle universe grows in season 6.


4) Always
The TV shows I love most capture me because of the care and feeding given through the vision and steady hand of its creators. When a show captures my imagination, I don't care about the destination and figuring out how it might all end. Instead I am invested in how the characters get there and what they discover along the way. What made the protracted road of Castle and Beckett's courtship work was that the characters were never merely marking time until they got together. We watched Castle struggle to be a better man, not just for Beckett, but to Alexis and Martha. We held out hope that Beckett would figure out how to get out of her own way and learn to be vulnerable and defined by something beyond her mother's murder. I invested in these flawed characters because they are in fact evolving. It's what makes them interesting and their journey in season 6 more than an answer at the top of the episode. I don't blindly love all of Castle's 105 episodes, but I do admire the way the show has built a universe of people who I have grown invested in a little more each passing year. I trust that no one is more invested in this show than Andrew Marlowe, his cast and his crew to continue to take us on a journey that entertains us as it has faithfully the last five years.

That said, is it September 23rd yet?